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MCA spreads word about free student tickets

By Elizabeth Deprey

Posted on Thursday, February 10th, 2005, 12:00 am

emma pope-welch

HANDOFF - Students interested in attending Maine Center for the Arts performances have two free tickets at their disposal each semester as well as the opportunity for $5 rush tickets the day of the show.

Students at the University of Maine are entitled to two tickets per semester to the Maine Center for the Arts, yet most don’t use them. Students pay for the tickets with part of the $602 unified fee, which is included in tuition. Students may also receive discounts to shows that rent out the MCA, such as the upcoming Bowling for Soup concert.

“A lot of our shows appeal to a lot of students, but I’d say that the shows overall do not appeal to students,” said Adele Adkins, associate director of the MCA.

Adkins said that the types of shows that the MCA hosts are mandated by the university.

“We are always looking for shows that appeal to students, but many shows I’d like to get are just too expensive,” Adkins said.

Students said they didn’t use their tickets because they didn’t keep up with the schedule, didn’t like the shows, or didn’t know how to get tickets. Other students said that their schedules and break kept them from shows.

“I love the shows the MCA offers and I wouldn’t otherwise be able to attend if not for the free and student-priced tickets,” said Alexandra Cummings, a first-year English and theater major.

Another student, senior new media major Lyndsy Shuman felt differently.

“The shows often do not interest me,” said Shuman.

“The role of the MCA is to provide a broad experience in the performing arts, not be a concert venue,” said Adkins.

Adkins said that the university provides some funding for the student tickets through the unified fee, but that the MCA pays for $89,000 worth of tickets for students during the school year on top of that funding. This translates to roughly 5,200 tickets, Adkins said.

“We give away way more tickets than we get funded for,” said Adkins.

Student complimentary tickets have been available since the MCA opened in 1986, and the tickets used to be completely funded by the university. Adkins said a major budget cut 11 years ago caused the MCA to have to pay for students’ tickets.

Students are able to use the tickets for themselves or others, and can still get discounts on tickets once their free tickets are used up.

Students can go to the box office starting the first day of classes to get tickets for that semester’s shows, or call 800-MCA-TIXX.